Parliamentary questions

Fergus Ewing

2,894 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the methodology for this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report will allocate Scotland's share of the Climate Levy.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Proportions of the levy on electricity have been calculated using the Scottish proportion of final electricity consumption (this makes the assumption that exempt categories such as households are in the same proportion in Scotland as in the UK overall). As no…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology used in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report to allocate Scotland's revenue from duty from cigarettes will base the figure (a) on where the products are released from bonded warehouses or (b) on which company pays the duty and where th…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The UK tax oncigarettes and tobacco is apportioned to Scotland on the basis of Scotland’s share of expenditureas estimated from the Expenditure and Food Survey.This treatment follows theprinciple that Government Expenditure Revenues in Scotlandmeasures…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology used in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland (GERS) to calculate Scotland's revenue from duty received on spirits, beer and wine will base the figure (a) on where the drinks are released from the bonded warehouse or (b) on which company pays …

Answer · Andy Kerr: The proportions ofexpenditure on each type of alcohol were estimated from the ONS Expenditure andFood Survey based on average expenditure per household and number of households.This treatment follows theprinciple that GERS measures the tax burden that …

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology used to calculate EU contributions to Scotland in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report will take into account an estimated Scottish share of the extra-regio territory and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Andy Kerr: EU contributions are notapplicable to extra-regio territory.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology used to calculate the revenues from the remainder of gross trading surplus and rent (excluding NTCC) to Scotland will take into account an estimated Scottish share of the extra-regio territory and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Andy Kerr: North Sea revenues do not include gross trading surplus andrent.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology used to calculate revenues from interest and dividend receipts to Scotland will take into account an estimated Scottish share of the extra-regio territory in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report and what the reasons are for its positio…

Answer · Andy Kerr: North Sea revenues do not include interest and dividendpayments.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology used to calculate Scotland's revenues from other taxes and royalties will take into account an estimated Scottish share of the extra-regio territory in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report.

Answer · Andy Kerr: North sea revenues do notinclude other taxes and royalties.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it was unable to calculate an estimate of Scotland's landfill per head based on environmental data that indicated more landfill per head than the rest of the UK, as referred to in Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland (GERS) 2000-2001.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Customs and Excise do notprovide regional data on landfill tax. The environmental data referred to in GERSpertain to differences in recycling rates between England, Wales and Scotland. Thisdata cannot be used directly to infer Scotland’s share of landfill tax…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report will show the allocation of Scotland's share of landfill tax revenue on information sought from local authorities and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The landfill tax has beenallocated on a population share basis.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report (GERS) will show the allocation of Scotland's share of insurance premium tax revenue on the basis of which company sells the policy and where that company is headquartered and what the reasons a…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Scotland’s population share was used to estimate Scotland’sinsurance premium tax share. This treatment follows theprinciple that GERS measures the tax burden that is imposed on Scottishresidents within the UK.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report will show the allocation of Scotland's share of insurance premium tax revenue based on information sought from insurance providers.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Scotland's share of insurance premium tax revenue is notbased on information from insurance providers.Scotland’s population share was used to estimate Scotland’s insurancepremium tax share.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report (GERS) will show the allocation of Scotland's share of air passenger duty revenue based on the number of flights from or within Scotland and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish populationshare has been used to calculate the Scottish share of this tax becauseScottish air passengers tend to use airports throughout the UK.This treatment follows theprinciple that GERS measures the tax burden that is imposed on Scotti…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for calculating Scotland's share of fuel duty revenue in last year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report was based on the site of delivery.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The fuel duty revenue for Scotland isbased on inland deliveries of each of the different fuel types published in the UK Digest of Energy Statistics.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for calculating Scotland's share of fuel duty revenue in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report will take account of VAT on sales.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Fuel duties are based on thevolume, not on the price of fuel. The methodology does not take account of VATon sales.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report takes account of regional variations in fuel prices with particular reference to higher than average prices and mileages in the Highlands and Islands when calculating fuel duty revenue and what …

Answer · Andy Kerr: Fuel duties are based on thevolume and not on the price of fuel. The fuel duty revenue for Scotland isbased on inland deliveries of each of the different fuel types for the UKDigest of Energy Statistics. These deliveries reflect the different mileagesacross S…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report will take into account interest on VAT paid and subsequently repaid to Scottish businesses and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Andy Kerr: GERS does not take into account explicitly the interest payments in relation to VAT. These are “extrareceipts” by Customs and Excise which enter into “other taxes and royalties”and are allocated by Gross Value Added share.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report will take account of business VAT payments when allocating Scotland's VAT revenue and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Scotland’s share of UK VAT revenue was estimated by Customsand Excise on the basis of Scotland’s share of household expenditure on those goods andservices.The methodology by Customsand Excise is the best currently available.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has with regard to how the Inland Revenue calculates the Scottish portion of inheritance tax revenue in last year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Inland Revenue suppliesthe amount of inheritance tax collected in respect of Scottish deaths and othertransfers.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report will take into account an estimate of Scotland's share of the extra-regio territory when allocating Scotland's share of capital gains tax revenues and what the reasons are for its position on th…

Answer · Andy Kerr: North Sea revenues do not include any capital gains tax.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology that allocates Scotland's share of corporation tax revenues will take into account an estimate of Scotland's share of extra-regio territory in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland (GERS) report and what the reasons are for its position on the…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Extra-regio corporation taxis not allocated to Scotland’s share of corporation tax revenues.The UKcontinental shelf is not regarded as part of mainland UK or itsconstituent countries and therefore it is not possible to attribute a share of the extra-re…

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the presentation of the Scottish share of UK income tax liability was based on payments to income tax collection offices in Scotland or as a proportionate share of total receipts from the UK in last year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish share is basedon Inland Revenue statistics on the income tax liabilities of Scottish residentsas reported in the Inland Revenue’s Survey of Personal Incomes .

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the procurement expenditure by the Ministry of Defence will be presented showing where it is paid rather than on a pro-rata basis in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report (GERS) and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Andy Kerr: All defence expenditure isallocated according to population share as in previous editions of GERS. Thistreatment is consistent with the “who benefits” principle that is the basis forthe allocation of expenditure in GERS.

3 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the annual running expenditure by the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be presented on the basis of where it is spent rather than on a pro-rata basis in this year's Government Expenditure and Revenues in Scotland report (GERS) and what the reasons a…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Defence and overseasservices expenditure is allocated according to population share as in previouseditions of GERS. This treatment is consistent with the “who benefits”principle that is the basis for the allocation of expenditure in GERS.The same is tr…

2 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision with regard to the dualling of the A96.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2O-678 on 6 November 2003which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.parliame…

2 Dec 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the allegations reported in the Scottish Daily Mail on 1 December 2003 that a company that won a multi-million pound contract for the Holyrood Project has admitted funding a party for staff of the construction managers who are stated to have recommended the company for the contract…

Answer · George Reid: It is for the AuditorGeneral for Scotland to decide which aspects of the Parliament buildingproject should be audited. I can assure you that for the forthcoming audit,announced as part of the Fraser Inquiry, the auditors will have access to allrelevant Parlia…

2 Dec 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what the floor area is of each MSP office in the MSP block of the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Answer · George Reid: The Convener of the HolyroodProgress Group has informed me that the floor area in each MSP office in theMSP block measures 15m². In addition, there is 12m² of adjacent floor spaceearmarked for researchers.

2 Dec 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer how many trade packages have been awarded for the Holyrood project; of these, how many were awarded following a recommendation by the construction managers, and in how many cases was such a recommendation rejected.

Answer · George Reid: The Convener of the HolyroodProgress Group has informed me that 64 construction trade packages have beenawarded, all of which were recommended by the construction managers andappropriate members of the design team and accepted by the Scottish ParliamentaryCor…

2 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is regarding the level of charges that voluntary organisations are required to pay in order to register with the Care Commission and what action it will take on the matter.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The maximum registration feelevels set annually by Scottish ministers for all care services apply equallyto the public and independent sector. Ministers publicly consult on fee levels.Changes in response to consultation have included a new definition ofwhole-…

1 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an assurance that the Mallaig to Armadale ferry service will continue irrespective of any decision on Skye Bridge tolls.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We have no plans to withdrawthe Mallaig–Armadale ferry service as a consequence of our commitment to endthe discredited toll regime on the Skye Bridge.

27 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide assistance to the shopmobility Highland bus service for local disabled people in Inverness and Dingwall under the Rural Community Transport Initiative and, if so, whether funding will be provided prior to the end of the current financial year.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Shopmobility Highland didnot submit a funding application to the latest round of the Rural CommunityTransport Initiative (RCTI). No funding can be made available in the currentfinancial year, but Shopmobility may apply to the next round of the RCTI inspring 2…